‘Big Teams Praying To Avoid Super Eagles In 2018 World Cup’- Pinnick

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Amaju Pinnick, has stated that his colleagues from other countries called to inform him that they don’t want to play against the Super Eagles at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

He claimed that most countries who qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup do not want to be drawn in the same group with Nigeria.

The NFF boss made the claim during the launching ceremony of short code *1945# for Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup in Lagos on Monday which will be used to reward Nigerian fans.

The draw for the 2018 World Cup will be held on Friday, December 1 in Russia.

Pinnick said, “We can play any country. In fact when the draw for the last 20 teams in Africa came, I said any country that qualifies for the World Cup is as good as lifting the World Cup. Nobody would have believed that Nigeria would qualify out of that group.

“The same way we are panicking, so also other countries are panicking to meet Nigeria. Even though we are in the last pot, nobody wants Nigeria to be in their group.

“I can tell you that, I talk to my colleagues globally and they call to say they don’t want Nigeria to be in their group. Now Nigeria is rated in their minds as one of the first four teams in the world because beating Argentina is no mean feat.

“So every country is scared. And that’s why I said people should not look at the FIFA ranking, it’s just numbers and numbers don’t lift trophies, it’s your determination, resilience and prayers that do.

“I always want us to play against quality teams in friendlies, let’s see them, let’s expose them the way they too can expose us as well.

“The principal reason for playing against these big countries is that you will be able to note your inadequacies immediately and know how to correct them.”

Pinnick also spoke on plans being put in place by the NFF for the Super Eagles to do very well at the 2018 World Cup.

“We are just being prayerful and being dedicated and working according to our plans. On the 12th of December, we will be addressing a world press conference in Abuja.

“And in that world press conference, we are going to unveil A to Z of our plans till the kick-off of our first game.

“We will unveil the day the players will be paid, their 25 per cent World Cup money, there is going to be count down to Russia 2018 and we have worked out plans in that regard.

“We want to ensure total organisation, we want to ensure smoothness towards the World Cup because if you have quality preparation, also expect a quality result. We have chosen three camp venues.

“We will look at the temperature of the country, comfort and proximity to Russia. We don’t want to compromise standard, and we believe if we give them quality preparation, they will give us quality result.”